PlanetCatfish.com

Hello all.
I recently purchased 3 Pseudorinelepis L152, all about 4 - 4.5". I've found very little info on these fish anwhere, and many conflicting reports on their relationship with L95 P. genibarbis. Many seem to believe that L152 is the juvenile form of L95, I believe this is also what aqualog states. Others think they're two different species, L152 growing to somewhere around the 15" mark. I've even come across the opinion that L152 is in fact the female version of L95.

Do any of you guys know what's going on? Has anybody watched a L152 grow to full size (whatever that may be)? Have any of you had a L152 grow in to a L95?

Any help much appreciated, Cheers, Conrad

I'm kind of dubious to the claim that they are the same species. They come from a reasonable distance appart - although the Amazon and Orinoco rivers do connect at least during the rainy season, I feel that the distribution isn't overlapping. This on it's own is probably not sufficient to determine if it's the same species or not. But none of the Cat-eLog's pictures show ANY spots on L152, whilst the P. genibarbis has spots in all the pictures.

At least some of those pictures show mature fish, so I expect that the spots are in one species and not in the other.

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Mats

Thanks for the reply mats, I also think it's more likely the two are separate species, especially given the distribution areas, as you say.

However,
Below is a picture of one of my fish after a a few day settling in time, you can see it's developing a grey background with black spots somewhat reminiscent of L95, this is much more apparent when seen with the naked eye. The second pic shows one of the fish immediately after introduction to the tank, it appears much more like the ones picture in the cat-elog, maybe this darker colouration is result of increased stress? (I've noticed they darken up when startled too)

Cheers, Conrad

Neither show the same kind of spots as the pictures of P. genibarbis tho, do they?

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Mats

Yes, I can see that.

However, my point was that if, as aqualog states, L152 is the juvenile form of L95, then these spots may develop with age. I was trying to indicate that saying "spots are in one species and not in the other" may not be a foolproof method of ID for L152.

Conrad.

I personally think Aqualog is wrong here.

It is normal for spots to become less distinct or disappear altogether in adult specimens. But here we are seeing some small and some large specimens that are both having spots, as well as small and large ones without spots.

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Mats

I also assume Aualog is wrong here. I have kept an L-152 a couple of years, it sadly died at about 35cm. It was then totally black with black spots. The same color as it always had.
The genibarbis is totally different looking

Pseudorinelepis genibarbis


Redescription of Pseudorinelepis genibarbis PDF

I sadly have no picture of the L-152.

E

Thankyou Erlend, I thought this was the case, good to have first hand conformation.

Conrad

Just to add,i have seen 7-10cm L95s at an Lfs here and they all had the same colouration as adult L95s...

Thanks Kostas, that helps clear things up for me!
Conrad